York Ebor Update

Space Blues is a horse I have always had a lot of time for and was highlighted as a sprinter to follow on page 134 of Ahead On The Flat. Charlie Appleby's four year old gained his first Group 1 success in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on Sunday having finished third in the six and a half furlongs event twelve months ago. The son of Dubawi didn't fire on his reappearance at Meydan during the winter but he hasn't looked back since winning his next four outings. Following Listed and Group 3 success at Haydock and Longchamp respectively, the Godolphin owned colt finished powerfully to capture the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood at the backend of last month. It was only his third run at the highest level over the weekend but his trademark finishing kick was very much in evidence as he wore down Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes victor Hello Youmzain to win going away by three parts of a length. The Breeders' Cup Mile has been touted as his main end of season target.

Talking of high quality Flat horses, the York Ebor Festival takes place in ten days time and I am currently working on the Update which covers the superb four day fixture. I am hoping to sort out an interview with a leading trainer who is set to be well represented during the meeting. I will update via my Diary once it has been confirmed. Please head to the Publications section of the site to order a copy, if you haven't already done so. Last year's Update proved highly profitable with 8 winners, including Hamish (Advised @ 16/1), Que Amoro (9/1) and Valdermoro (Advised @ 7/1). Fingers crossed for more of the same this time around.

Switching codes, ValueRacingClub.co.uk's purple patch continued on Saturday evening with Yes No Maybe So's emphatic victory at Uttoxeter. Bought privately earlier this year, the six year old has won two out of two since joining Tom Lacey and the Stowaway gelding relished the step up to nearly three miles for the first time at the Midlands track. Partnered by Johnny Burke, he stayed on strongly to win by nine and a half lengths off a mark of 110. Burke, who was once retained by the Potts in Ireland, is six out of six when riding for the Herefordshire handler this season already. As for VRC they are currently lying in second place in the owners' championship with 5 winners from only 11 runners (45% strike-rate). At the risk of repeating myself, they didn't acquire their name by accident.

Tom Lacey is one of eight stable interviews I have conducted thus far for One Jump Ahead. The list currently comprises of Kim Bailey, Harry Fry, Philip Hobbs, Tom Lacey, Olly Murphy, Paul Nicholls, David Pipe and Nicky Richards and I will be arranging more this week and next.